Chapter 10: The Shortest Honeymoon Phase Ever

Marjorie and Luke Hans honeymooned in Egypt. They were so in love and so excited to be in the land of Pharaohs and pyramids, they could hardly contain themselves. They chose to stay at a campsite to save money.

But they splashed out on a simlish speaking guide, so that they did not miss any of the highlights. Their guide Lorenzo was a wealth of information and suggestions for day tours and sampling local cuisine.

 Unfortunately he had to be very patient because Marjorie and Luke kept getting distracted.

But they managed to squeeze in all the main sights. They would never forget the massive carved desert sphinx.

But really they just wanted to be together - in private and it quickly became "Meh...another pyramid...it looks a bit like that other pyramid."

 And they would rush back to their favourite restaurant in the marketplace and gaze into each other's eyes for several hours, until it was time to go back to their tent to work on the nuptials.

The holiday soon came to an end and the Diarmid's returned home to begin their life together.

At home however, Marjorie didn't feel all that well. Luke said she should be revived and re-energised, but she actually felt tired and nauseous. Luke was worried.

 Then, she began vomiting uncontrollably every morning! She was glad that Luke was out when it happened....Marjorie could not mistake the signs. In her heart she knew she was pregnant

She was terribly worried. They had only just begun to remodel and decorate the house with their meagre savings. Luke was working sometimes well into the middle of the night and they could barely make ends meet. How would adding a baby to this mix affect everything?

 One morning when she got up to make her breakfast, she realised she was starting to show and it would be impossible to hide the pregnancy from Luke any longer...Marjorie resolved to tell Luke Hans and hope for the best. There was nothing she could do, they were in this together and they would just have to deal with the added burden.

Marjorie thought long and hard that day and resolved that she would tell Luke the news. A problem shared is a problem halved. And while she was passing the thrift store she saw a lovely old 1950's high chair. She brought it home and painted it up that afternoon.

Of course it was the first thing that Luke Hans noticed when he walked through the door.

And the sight of it naturally freaked him out. Marjorie confirmed they were having a baby. "How?" he kept saying over and over. "How? How did this happen?" as though he'd never done Health at school, never watched David Attenborough docos all his life. He just assumed that making kind of thing would be harder to do....his head was spinning with the implications. The cost. The change in their lifestyle. It was all a lot to take in.

But eventually, as Luke watched Marjorie blooming into her pregnancy, scarfing down extra plates of dinner every night, he became amazed that they were together creating new life. It was miraculous.

But, becoming a new father himself made him think about his own parents. His mother was getting older. His father....he had not spoken to him for many many years. He felt a pang of regret, waves of curiosity and he knew for his own peace of mind he needed to address the situation.

Several nights later Luke was supposed to be on a job when he found himself outside the ranch that was his father, Benny's last known address. Lights suggested someone was home, so he decided to knock and see if he still lived there.

The door was opened by an elderly man that Luke did not recognise. "Sorry, to bother you sir. I'm looking for a Mr Benny Diarmid. He used to live here I believe?"
"He still does," smiled the man "I am he, how can I help you?"

Luke gulped. He was speechless for a few moments looking at this old man. Then he blurted "I'm your son! I'm Luke." Benny's eyes grew misty and he gazed at Luke for a long minute, he seemed to lose his breath. Then he smiled and said "Nice to meet you Luke....it has been so long...." Benny invited Luke to stay for dinner.

The house was huge. Luke was amazed that he was standing in the kitchen of his father's house while he cooked dinner for him. He wondered what his mother would say? His head was overflowing with questions and blanks that need filling.

Over dinner the conversation was a little awkward. Luke didn't really know how to ask the questions he wanted to ask because he didn't really know this man at all. Benny seemed withdrawn and quiet and didn't say much more than pleasantries about the weather. Eventually Benny asked if Luke was married and Luke told him all about Marjorie.
"We're expecting our first child." he said finally. "You're going to be a grandad."

Benny looked away. He gazed silently at some invisible vision at the opposite end of the dining room. Luke waited for him to react, to congratulate him, to say something. Eventually he said "No, son. I won't be a grandad really. I was never a father, so I have no way of becoming a grandfather, do I?" Luke was sad and silent.

After dinner they played a game of chess in living room. They played like old friends. They did not talk about the past or about the missing years. Luke did not ask any questions or mention his mother Lesley. Benny seemed to appreciate and bask in Luke's company without offering him any explanations or excuses.

And when the game was finished Benny looked at Luke and said "I want to say thank you. Thank you for coming to see me tonight and for letting me know about the baby. I appreciate it."
Luke said "No problem" and they parted with a friendly wave.

 Luke was glad he had come. Somehow he knew he would not see his father again, but he was at peace with that and he knew his father was too.

Luke didn't have much time to dwell on the strange meeting with Benny. There were so many changes ahead.

One day a heavily pregnant Marjorie decided to blitz the bathroom and started cleaning it from top to bottom.

 She told Luke that she'd read in her pregnancy book that it was a kind of nesting reaction....she just could not sit down and do nothing. She needed to clean and reorganise and scrub and descale and disinfect and freshen. Nothing was clean enough and nothing was organised enough. She was doing three loads of laundry per day, when suddenly it happened.....

Luke had just sat down to eat his dinner when Marjorie screamed like the devil was after her. It took several minutes for his brain to catch up with the action.

"Don't just stand there!" screamed Luke at Marjorie - who wasn't screaming anymore, but looked perfectly calm and organised. "DO SOMETHING!!!" yelled Luke.

And Marjorie did do something.

She calmly and bravely gave birth to their baby that night, pretty much without Luke's assistance at all...a beautiful baby boy.

 Curtis Diarmid entered the world and became their whole world.